Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS EPA 904B10001 | June 2010 Disclaimer The Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments (Toolkit) is not intended to provide guidance on local government codes/ordinances. The information here, however, can help communities evaluate their existing codes/ordinances and apply the information to create more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable communities. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cannot attest to the accuracy of non- EPA Web sites provided in the Toolkit. Providing references to non-EPA Web sites, companies, services, or products does not constitute an endorsement by EPA or any of its employees of the sponsors of the site or the information or products presented. Furthermore, EPA does not accept any responsibility for the opinions, ideas, data, or products presented at non-EPA Web sites, or guarantee the validity of the information provided. Cover credits: Top row of photos courtesy of Loren Heyns with Neighborhood.org. Bottom photo courtesy of Neighborhood.org. Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments i Acknowledgments The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is grateful for the invaluable assistance of a number of organizations and individuals who helped develop the Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments (Toolkit). Approximately 40 individuals contributed to the development of the Toolkit by participating in a March 2009 workshop hosted by the Southface Energy Institute in Atlanta, Overcoming Barriers to Green Permitting: Tools for Local Governments. The workshop was facilitated by Michael Elliott, Director of Research, Consortium on Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Georgia Institute of Technology. A complete list of the workshop registrants can be found in Appendix B. We recognize the following individuals for reviewing and providing invaluable feedback on the Toolkit: • Alice Champagne, Brad Townsend and Danelle Volpe, City of Roswell; • Allison Dennis, EPA Green Power Partnership; • Allan Bilka, International Code Council; • Bob Thompson, EPA Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park; • Chris Choi, EPA Region 5; • Chris Edmark, Thurston County Plans Examiner; • David Eisenberg, Development Center for Appropriate Technology; • David Price, EPA Office of Air and Radiation; • Henry Slack, EPA Region 4; • Jeremy Sigmon, U.S. Green Building Council; • Jonathan Passe, EPA Energy Star Residential Programs; • Liz Upchurch, Tennessee Valley Authority; • Mary Walsh and Heather Nix, Upstate Forever; • Michelle Britt and Mark Halverson, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; • Robin Snyder and Cosimina Panetti, Building Codes Assistance Project; • Sam Klein, MaGrann Associates; • Stephanie Busch, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division; and • Truett Degeare, EPA Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery. The project benefited from initial funding and support from EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Innovations Work Group. The project was led by EPA Region 4’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Division, Water Protection Division, and Office of Pollution Prevention and Innovation; in collaboration with EPA Headquarters’ Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation. Monica Gonzalez, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional (AP), developed the Resource Guide portion of the Toolkit. Monica was a Georgia Institute of Technology Student Co-op and volunteered her time and green building expertise on this project. EPA especially thanks the following individuals for leading the development of the Toolkit: • EPA, Region 4: Karen Bandhauer, Mary Ann Gerber, Suganthi Simon, Steve Smith • EPA, Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation: Corey Buffo (now with the Department of Energy), Susan Gitlin, Kevin Nelson, Ken Sandler, Lee Sobel • EPA, Region 3: Lorna Rosenberg • City of Roswell, Georgia: • Public Works / Environmental Department – Alice Champagne, Stuart Moring, Danelle Volpe • Community Development Department – Brad Townsend • Monica Gonzalez, LEED AP This Toolkit was prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and by ICF International (EPA Contract # EP-W-05-025). Elizabeth Brown and Scott Ledford supported development of the Toolkit at ICF. Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments ii Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments iii Table of Contents Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................................... ii Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Overview of the Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments ................................................................ 2 Section 1: Assessment Tool and Resource Guide ..............................................................................................2 Section 2: Creating an Action Plan ..................................................................................................................3 Who Should Use The Toolkit ........................................................................................................... 3 How The Toolkit Can Help .................................................................................................................. 3 How The Assessment Tool and Resource Guide Works ............................................................................................................................ 3 Assessment Tool ................................................................................................................................................3 Resource Guide .................................................................................................................................................5 How to Complete The Assessment Tool and Resource Guide .................................................................................................................................. 5 How to Develop an Action Plan ..................................................................................................... 6 Section 1: Sustainable Design Permitting Assessment Tool and Resource Guide .................................................................................................................................. 7 A. Sustainable Sites and Responsible Land Use Development ........................................................................8 B. Materials and Resource Conservation ......................................................................................................30 C. Energy Conservation and Atmospheric Quality ........................................................................................39 D. Water Efficiency, Conservation, and Management ....................................................................................50 E. Indoor Environmental Air Quality ............................................................................................................58 F. General Green Building Resources ...........................................................................................................65 Assessment Summary ................................................................................................................................69 Section 2: Creating an Action Plan .............................................................................................70 The Action Plan Roadmap ..............................................................................................................................70 Appendix A: How The Toolkit Was Created..............................................................................80 Appendix B: Registrants List – Overcoming Barriers to Green Permitting Workshop ......................................................................................................................................................82 Appendix C: List of Abbreviations and Acronyms ...............................................................83 Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments iv Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments v Introduction The process of designing, developing, and inhabiting the built environment has a profound influence on a community’s economy, environment, and quality of life. In the United States, buildings account for approximately 40 Sustainable design includes considering not just how buildings percent of total energy consumption and carbon dioxide and the surrounding site are constructed, but also where they are emissions, 13 percent of water use, and 160 million tons constructed. EPA has many resources for local governments and the per year of construction and demolition (C&D) debris. real estate industry on smart growth: compact, walkable, mixed-use Buildings also contain indoor air that can be 100 times more polluted than outside air.1 Additionally, unsustainable development that takes advantage of existing infrastructure and building practices can have unintended social and protects critical natural lands. For more information on smart growth economic consequences including brownfields, sprawl, and its many environmental, economic, and social